Vibrator apparatus



July 23, 1940. E` Q TQLMAN, JR 2,209,143

VIBRATOR APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 23, 1940.

E. B. TOLMAN. JR

vIBRAToR APPARATUS Filed Jan. 27, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 23, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT I oFFlcE amai. y vnnwroa mamma Edgar B. Tolman, Jr., Chicago, Ill. Anuman January 27, 194e, sean No. 31am 8Claims.

My invention relates more particularly to hoppers for finely divided solid material having vibratory means for preventing the arching of the material in the hopper and interfering with the desired gravitation of the material therefrom.

My objects generally stated are to provide improvements in such apparatus to the end of rendering it better adapted for performing its intended functioning.

Certain of my more specific objects are;

To provide an'improvement in the means for sealing the part of the vibrator apparatus which extends from the interior of the hopper to the exterior thereof, to the end of prolonging the life of such sealing means and maintaining an effective seal, through the continuing operations oi .the apparatus, for preventing the escape of the finely divided material to the atmosphere;

To provide an improvement whereby the tendency of the finely divided material to contact the sealing means referred to will be greatly reduced if not entirely overcome.

To provide novel means for mounting certain parts of the vibratory apparatus to permit cf the alining of parts of the apparatus to compensate for wear without requiring access to the interior of the hopper for making adjustments and to simplify the connections of certain of other parts and eliminate objectionable stresses occurring in structures of this character as hitherto provided.-

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in end elevation, partly sectional, of a hopper and vibratory apparatus therefor embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary View in elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 1, the structure being viewed from the right in Fig. l.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view in sectional elevation of the structure of Figs. 1 and 2, the section being taken at the line 3 on Fig. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrow; and

Figure 4, a section taken at the line 4 on Fig. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrow.

Referring to the particular apparatus shown, it comprises a hopper 5 for finely divided solid material, from which the material is to be fed through its lower `discharge outlet 8.

The hopper 5 contains a vibratory plate 1 shown as pivoted, at trunnions 8 thereon, on

stepped blocks 8 secured to the side wall of the hopper, whereby the plate 1 is adapted to be swung back and forth at its lower end and produce sumcient agitation yof the contents of the hopper to prevent arching.

Associated with the hopper 8 is a housing (ci. 25a-a9) III extending through an opening Il in the inclined side wall of the hopper, with the continuous Joint between the wall of the opening Il and the surrounding wall of the housing I8 sealed, as for example by providing a continuous weld at this joint, as represented at I2.

The housing Il is formed with a straight, substantially horizontal top wall I3, side walls I4 `and an upwardly and outwardly inclined bottom wall Il, the outer end of the housing I8 being provided with an outwardly extending annular vertically disposediiange I 8.

The plate 1 is vibrated through the medium of a rod I1 connected with the plate 1 as indicated at I8 and extending through 'the housing I0 closely adjacent thetop wall I3 thereof and operated as hereinafter described, the rod I1 being shown as formed of rod sections I8 and 20 connected together by. a sleeve section 2|.

'I'he end of the rod I1 adjacent the outer end of the housing I0 extends through a dust seal 22 mounted in an opening 23 in a seal block 24 having an annular circumferential flange 25 overlapping the wall 26 of an aperture 21 in the plate portion 28 of a bracket 23 and clamped to this wail by a ring 30 bearing against the ange 25 and clamp bolts -3I engaging the block 24 and ring 38, the plate 28 being clamped against an annnular gasket 32 between the plate 28 and flange 25, by clamp bolts 33.

The body portion of the block 24 is of less diameter than the openings in the ring 38 and plate 28 to adapt the block 24 to be vertically adjusted on the bracket 28.

The means for reciprocating the rod I1 comprises a coupler-head 34 rigidly connected with the rod,'as by providing the head 34 with a split portion 35 which, by means 'of a clamp bolt 3l, is clamped to the rod I1.

Journaled in arms 31 of the head 34 is an un balanced wheel device 88 which operates, when rotated, to impart, through the head 34, longitudinal vibratory movement to the'rod I1 and consequently to the plate 1.

'I'he wheel device shown is formed of a wheel proper 38 provided with a continuous peripheral groove 40, to form a sheave wheel for belted connection with the drive means hereinafter described; the wheel 38 being rendered unbalanced by cutting away a portion of its side walls as shown at 4i.

'I'he wheel 38 is rotatably mounted on a stationary shaft 42 carried by arms 31 on the head 34, by means of a ball bearing 43 on the shaft 42 shown as having two annular series 44 of balls,

l the retainersy 4l and for the balls being held in placeI on the' shaft and wheel, by spacer sleeves lV 41 on the shaft 42 and a1 spring ring 48 interlocked with the inner peripheral portion of the i by the -housing III is of advantage particularly wheel 39.

'Ihe drive means vfor the wheel 39, shown as an electric motor 49, is secured to a lower arm t -50 forming a .part of the bracket 29, as by screws t I, the armature shaft 52 of the motor 49 hav' ing a sheave 53 belted to the sheave-wheel 3l, as

l ticularv construction embodying my invention, I

by the belt 5I.

The rotation of the sheave wheel 39 tends to vi'- brate therrodv I1 up and down, and to prevent this I provide a pair of flat springs 5l connected at their upper Aends to an upwardly extending arm forming a part of the bracket -29 and at their lower ends to the head 34.

The connections ofthe springs 5.5 with the-H4 head 34 is at the ends of a horizontall bar 511 secured between its ends to depending extensions i 58 of the head 34, as by bolts 59, the springs 55 3, atlone. face overlying the bar 51 and held ini placeby short bars 60 applied to the other face of the springs and bolts 6I extending through the bars 51 and60 and the springs 55.

As will be understood, the rod I1 when driven to vibrate the plate 1 is subject to slight'rocking movement, especially after the hinge connection of the plate'l with the hopper has become worn. f Consequently it is necessary, in order to avoid leakage of dust along the rod through the seal 22 that the seal remain tight at all times. l The matter of sealing the reciprocatory rod I1 in apparatus of this general character has,A presented a problem which I have solved vby providing the seal of such form that it will yield,`y Without impairing its sealing function, in the various movements of the rod in actuating the plate 1 A form of such a seal which I have found to be highly practicable lfor use in such a situation is that shown, a'description of which is as follows:

The seal comprises Aa pair vof channel rings 62 held in place in the opening 23 in the seal block;

22, with a spacer ring B3. interposed, byv means of a shoulder 64 on'tlie 66 of flexible material, as for example leather,

located in the rings 62 and having continuous yielding curved flanges 61 at their inner peripheries which bear against the rod I1; and annular coil springs 68 located in `the rings 62 and yield-` ingly pressing the flanges 61 yof the rings v66` against Athe rod I1.

As will be understood,` the flanges 8l ofthe sealing rings 66 will be `maintained in contact with the rod I1r regardless of all movements of this rod, yincluding those in a direction crosswise of the length of the rod, .g i

The feature of providing the housing III is of great advantage inasmuch as by disposing its top and bottom walls IIJ and I5 as shown and de-v scribed, massing of the material in the hopperv against the sealing means 22 is prevented thereby greatly minimizing the possibility of leakage of the dust through the sealing means. l

The feature of providing the sealing means .22 on a part which is vertically adjustable relative to the hopper is also of practical advantage, par-v ticularly in the event of wear of the trunnions 8 may be horizontally alined with the point of connection of the rod I1 with the plate 1, merely by vertically adjusting' the block 24, on the bracket 29, thereby avoiding the necessity of an operblock 22 and a spring` ring 65 interlock'ed with the block; sealing rings` ator entering the hopper to make the necessary adjustments.

The feature of supporting the spring means 55 on a portion of the bracket 28 which. is .carried do not wish to be understood vas intending it to be limited thereto, as the same may be variously modified andaltered, and the invention embodied in other forms of structure, withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention. Y

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l 1. In combination with a'hopper', a vibratory member in said hopper, a housing structure at one side of'said hopper and having an upwardly Aand outwardly inclinedbottom wall and a top wall, saidA walls extending into said hopper through aside thereof, the space between said walls opening into the 'space in the hopper, 25

meansifor vibrating said member comprising a rod engaging said member and extending outwardlyfthrough said hopper and housing adjacent the top wall of said housing, means engaging the outer end of said rod for actuating it, and sealing means on said housing through which said rod extends.

2. In, combination with `a hopper, a hingedly supported vibratory member in said hopper, a housing structure opening at one end into said hopper throughV a side of Vthe latter, means for vibrating said member comprising a rod connected with said member and extending through said housing structure and means for reciprocating said rod, a plate at the outer end of said said'housing structure and means for reciprocat-` ing 'said rod, said housing structure including a plate j at the outer end of said-housing structure adjustable crosswise of said rod, and, sealing means on said plate for said rod, the means for reciprocating saidv rod being connected with a stationaryr part of said housing structure.

4.v In combination with a hopper, a vibratory member in said hopper, means for vibrating said member compring a 'rod engaging said member and means for reciprocating said rod, said second-named means comprising a sheave wheel, means, forming a part of the wheel, for eccentrically weighting said wheel, bearings for said wheel connected with said rod and by which said rod is actuated, a drive device, and an endless drive y element connecting said drive device to said wheel for driving the latter.

5. In combination with a hopper, a hingedly housing structure opening at oneend into said i l hopper through a side of the latte'r, means for on the plate 1, inasmuch as the sealing means 22 vibrating said member comprising a rod connected with said member and extending through said housing structure and means for reciprocating said rod, comprising a motor connected witha stationary part of the housing. Structure,

said housing structure including a plate at the outer end of said housing structure adjustable crosswise of said rod, and sealing means on said plate for said rod. l

6. In combination with a hopper, a hingedly supported vibratory member in said hopper, means for vibrating said member comprising a rod engaging said member and eccentric means exterior of said hopper for reciprocating said rod,

a housing structure open to the interior of said hopper and through which said rod extends, a spring held at one end against movement crosswise of said rod and connected with said eccentric means for substantially restraining said lastnamed means from vibrating in a direction crosswise of said rod, a plate at the outer end of said housing structure adjustable crosswise of said rod and sealing means on said plate for said rod.

7. In combination with a hopper, a vibratory member in said hopper, means for vibrating said member comprising a rod engaging said member and means'exterior of said hopper for reciprocating said rod, a housing structure open to the interlor of said hopper and through which said rod extends, sealing means for said rod connected with said housing structure, and means for substantially restraining the means which reciprocate said rod from vibrating in a direction crosswise of said rod comprising a spring supported by said housing structure .and connected with said rst named means.

8. In combination with a hopper, a vibratory member in said hopper, means for vibrating said member comprising a rod engaging said member and means exterior of said hopper for reciprocating said rod, a housing structure open to the interior of said hopper and through which said rod extends, said housing structure having a bracket extension, sealing means for said rod connected with said housing structure, and means for substantially restraining the means which reciprocate said rod from vibrating in a direction crosswise of said rod comprising a spring supported on said bracket extension and connected with said mst-named means.

EDGAR B. TOLMAN. Jl. 

